first course of bricks

[jaxpax]

Hi everyone. I'm a new member and about to start on my oven. I downloaded the directions from here and read them several times. However I am a little stumped. Is the first course of bricks mortared in or do they just sit on the oven floor?
Thanks

[Spider44]

Re: first course of bricks

I've just started today but all the comments about this part of the construction that I've come across suggest that the bricks on the floor of the oven are just placed on the floor and butted against each other without mortar.

[jaxpax]

Re: first course of bricks

Thanks for the answer Spider. However, I couldn't wait anymore and just jumped in. I mortared them in place and I'm on my 5th layer. So far so good.

[nholzer]

Re: first course of bricks

As a follow-up question: I'm planning to build the floor inside the dome wall. Do I start the first course of dome bricks on the FB board that I've installed, or should I put down some mortar or sand-fire clay mixture between the FB board and the first course of brick?

[NCMan]

Re: first course of bricks

Most builders just set them right on their insulation layer, w/mortar in between them. Having said that, if for some reason you need to adjust the height of a few bricks, there would be no harm in using a little sand/fireclay to level things up. Best of luck to you.

[Les]

Re: first course of bricks

Most builders just set them right on their insulation layer, w/mortar in between them.

You need the dome on the insulation - if not the hearth will be a heat sink. Also, I would avoid mortar on the floor. Get them as tight as you can and let it float. Any gaps will fill with ash.

[mrchipster]

Re: first course of bricks

Most builders just set them right on their insulation layer, w/mortar in between them. Having said that, if for some reason you need to adjust the height of a few bricks, there would be no harm in using a little sand/fireclay to level things up. Best of luck to you.

Clarification.....

Mortar between the sides if the first layer of dome bricks.
No mortar under the first layer of dome bricks.
No mortar At All!! On the floor bricks
Cardboard corrugated between floor and dome if dome is outside floor.
Thin Cardboard (not corrugated), or thick paper under dome bricks if dome is on floor
Cardboard will burn out.

[Volongo]

Re: first course of bricks

Clarification.....

Mortar between the sides if the first layer of dome bricks.
No mortar under the first layer of dome bricks.
No mortar At All!! On the floor bricks
Cardboard correlated between floor and dome if dome is outside floor.
Thin Cardboard (not correlated), or thick paper under dome bricks if dome is on floor
Cardboard will burn out.

Good advice from Chip.

Corrugated Cardboard between floor and dome if first course is not set directly on the floor.

[mrchipster]

Re: first course of bricks

Good advice from Chip.

Corrugated Cardboard between floor and dome if first course is not set directly on the floor.

Thanks, I never could speall vary goaod.

[NCMan]

Re: first course of bricks

Sure is nice having all the clarifications. Thanks!!